Text Preview

Continue reading...

For the most part, Beowulf’s characteristics describe those of a triumphant warrior who played a major role in defending the lives of his fellow citizens, while leading a thriving country. Although Beowulf soon became king, he died for his people, and was remembered as a victorious fighter. Beowulf is at least in part a study of kingship because it discusses the qualities that produce a good king, the disadvantages during his rule and how he overcame them, and the problems that arose upon his death.

Beowulf portrays the life a warrior turned king who demonstrates the qualities that not only the ideal king should have, but also the ideal warrior should exhibit. This allows the reader to notice how kings in the past were, and the power they possessed over the people of the area.
“Our eternal lord grants some men wisdom, some wealth and makes others great.” (1726-1729)
This quote displays Beowulf’s greatness as told to him by Hrothgar. He believes that the eternal lord grants this to him, and that this is not initially under Beowulf’s control. Despite that, Beowulf still uses that inborn quality to further his achievements as a king and warrior.

Throughout the story, Beowulf handles many tough situations in which he almost always comes out the hero, saving the lives of the citizens. Beowulf pays a lot of attention to the people, and in turn, becomes a strong king with many admirers.
“…My purpose was this: to win the good will of your people or die in the battle, pressed in Grendel’s fierce grip.” (634-636)
As you can see, Beowulf feels strongly about the people. From this point, you can tell that Beowulf will make a good king, because of his desire to please the people. According to him, it was his main focus of the battle.
Not only was Beowulf known for being a brave warrior and a strong king, but he was also known for being Edgetho’s son. Although never a king, Edgetho was victorious warrior just like his son.
“So Edgetho’s son survived no matter what battles he fought, brave and triumphant, till the day fate sent him to the dragon and sent him death.” (2397-2400)
This quote explains that Beowulf, Edgetho’s son, endured many battles till he died. These people believe in many debated topics, such as fate, or wyrd. This shows that they didn’t feel that Beowulf lost the battle per say, but fate sent him to fight the dragon, which killed him.

How to Cite this Page

Essay on A Comparison Of Augustus And Beowulf
- Beowulf’s Kingship For the most part, Beowulf’s characteristics describe those of a triumphant warrior who played a major role in defending the lives of his fellow citizens, while leading a thriving country. Although Beowulf soon became king, he died for his people, and was remembered as a victorious fighter. Beowulf is at least in part a study of kingship because it discusses the qualities that produce a good king, the disadvantages during his rule and how he overcame them, and the problems that arose upon his death.... [tags: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays]

An Analysis of the Epic Poem, Beowulf - Fame, Kingship, Fate and God in Beowulf
- Fame, Kingship, Fate and God in Beowulf The Anglo-Saxons were a people who lived in and ruled England from the fifth century AD until the Norman Conquest. They were a people who valued courage and leadership. They lived under kings who were "keepers of gold" and were guarded by their loyal thanes (knights). They were a Pagan culture until the Normandy conquistadors came. They believed in fate and believed the only way to live forever was if you had fame. In the Anglo-Saxon book, Beowulf, there was a combination of many different people.... [tags: Epic Beowulf essays]

Macbeth - Kingship Essay examples
- With detailed reference to the characters of Macbeth, Duncan, Malcolm and Edward in the play ‘Macbeth’, analyse William Shakespeare’s ideas and attributes towards kingship and assess what you think the audiences reaction to the play would be at the time. Shakespeare’s ideas towards kingship can be seen throughout the play. He shows that a king should be chosen by divine right and shows the attributes of what a good king should be. The play ‘Macbeth’ is set in medieval Scotland at the fictional time of King Duncan.... [tags: essays research papers]

Beowulf Essay
- Beowulf Beowulf was written during the Anglo-Saxon time period. Beowulf is a story about a young warrior and his quest through life. Some people consider Beowulf a tragic hero, and some people just consider him a hero period. Whether Beowulf is a tragic hero or not, he fights many great battles. The reason Beowulf fights stays basically the same but it changes a little. In the beginning of the book, Beowulf goes to help the Danes out by killing Grendel. Grendel is a ferocious monster that has been killing the Danes in the mead hall (115).... [tags: Epic of Beowulf Essays]

Beowulf Essay
- Beowulf, the Hero &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &#9;The epic poem Beowulf, which was told from generation to generation honoring modern Anglo-Saxon beliefs, describes a heroic man who saves a village in their time of need. By definition a hero is a man of exceptional quality. Exceptional quality doesn’t even begin to describe the man that is Beowulf. Beowulf has many heroic characteristics from his super human strength to victoriously slaying monsters and other ferocious beasts. He has excellent leadership skills and commonly boasts of his achievements.... [tags: Epic of Beowulf Essays]

Beowulf Essay
- He killed three monsters and then he died. Not a very interesting fate, but it is none the less one that I find myself having to write about regardless of whether or not I want to. Thus it was, the mighty Beowulf of old England that went forth to slay the evils which plagued the lands of his own people as well as those of his neighboring tribes. The second battle was one that was brought about by Beowulf’s willingness to go and help an old friend, and thus he nearly lost his life once more.... [tags: Epic of Beowulf Essays]

Beowulf Essay
- Beowulf is a well-known Anglo-Saxon poem that has been in English classes around the United States for almost as long as there have been schools around. Beowulf is not an actual picture of historic Denmark, Geatland, or Sweden around 500 A.D., yet it is on a general view, a self-consistent picture, a construction bearing clearly the marks of design and thought. Beowulf to us can only truly be enjoyed if one reads it in the old English version. The effects of the poem are not the same, although the sense of the heroic beast is very true.... [tags: Epic of Beowulf Essays]

Beowulf Essay
- The epic poem, Beowulf, depicts the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. The hero, Beowulf, was an outstanding warrior with all the extraordinary values required by a hero. He was able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encountered terrifying monsters and the most ferocious of beasts, but he never feared the threat of death. His leadership skills were excellent and he was able to boast about all his achievements. Beowulf was the ultimate epic hero who risked his life countless times for immortal glory and for the good of others.... [tags: Epic of Beowulf Essays]

Beowulf Essay
- Beowulf The poem Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, is largely based around the monstrousness of Grendel and his mother. It was a difficult task for Heaney to translate the poem into Modern English while maintaining the beauty of the language and capturing the horror of the monsters. He utilises devices such as structure, literary devices and characterisation to emphasise the fear apparent in the text. Though Heaney’s writing is effective, it is impossible to use the incidents in the poem that relate to events which took place centuries ago to instil fear into the story.... [tags: Epic of Beowulf Essay]

Beowulf Essay
- Beowulf This essay will show how the epic Anglo-Saxon/Scandinavian poem Beowulf is part of the heroic culture seen all over Europe at that time. While the poem has been escribed to about the year 800, recent research has indicated beyond doubt that it was first written down between 1087 and 1090, as entertainment for the court of King Henry II. (Aubrey Beardsley, Beowulf: New Beginnings, 2001, p. 74) Of course, the late eleventh centry was merely when it was actually put to paper, the language of the poem shows that there are many parts that are much older, that probably date to the Celtic Iron Age of southern Norway.... [tags: Epic of Beowulf Essay]

Related Searches

The span of the book goes through a succession of kings, many of them valiant and admired by countless people. Although Beowulf dies, he finds the one young kinsman who does not run away from the dragon and helps Beowulf, therefore making him a suitable successor to Beowulf.
“You’re the last of our far-flung family. Fate has swept our race away, taken warriors in their strength and led them to the death that was waiting. And now I follow them.” (2813-2816)
This quote is an example of how much Wiglaf’s loyalty meant to Beowulf. He felt that even though Wiglaf was not truly his successor, in the sense that he is not Beowulf’s son, Beowulf still felt that Wiglaf was worthy of the kingship that he had deserved for his gallantry. Beowulf also believes in fate taking lives, according to the quote. Besides that, Beowulf also views himself as a strong warrior, when he said “…taken warriors in their strength…and now I follow them.” This shows also that he has faith in Wiglaf, because Wiglaf is the next king in succession.

In conclusion, Beowulf is a perfect example of the study of kingship. Also, it shows the victory of a warrior and how he goes through challenges, the qualities that hinder or better the difficulties he faces, and the trust in another warrior to be king. This book is a classic tale of a man who seeks a name for himself early on in life, but later, he must depend on fate to finish his life.